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Do you consider your child to be mentally ill?
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<blockquote data-quote="mstang67chic" data-source="post: 296783" data-attributes="member: 2459"><p>I think you and CrazyinVA hit the nail on the head...Stigma. Even in this day and age, there is still a HUGE stigma attached to the term mentally ill. Most people think as you said....mentally ill people are "crazy", they can't function in society, they live in hospitals, group homes or on the streets. </p><p></p><p>But you are also right in the comparison to the diabetes. No matter what it's called, mental illness is still an illness just as diabetes is. It can be treated and controlled but it's still there. There are people <u>here</u> that are mentally ill but with the right treatments, you'd never know it unless they said something. </p><p></p><p>I think for what you are trying to do, your best bet may be simple rewording on the pamphlets or information being passed out. It may shock some parents and some may turn you away because of their denial but for the stigma to be stamped out, people need to be educated and aware of exactly what mental illness is comprised of. Maybe you could even work with NAMI (or the school even) to put together an informational/awareness event of some kind. Any wording though, I think should be somewhat subtle but decisive. (Hmmm....that sounds kind of counterproductive doesn't it?) Maybe, just as an example, something like what CrazyinVa said. <em> "X (bipolar, ADHD, whatever) is a biologically based mental illness that can manifest itself in many ways including undesireable behaviors. With proper treatment however, these behaviors in school and at home can be minimized or controlled just as you would control the symptoms of other illnesses such as diabetes." </em></p><p></p><p>Maybe comparing it to more "socially acceptable" and understood illnesses such as diabetes or others, can help people understand that while something may be a <u>mental</u> illness, it's still simply an <u>illness</u> and not something to be ashamed of or kept secret. </p><p></p><p>I would also be carefull when referring to treatments. Yes, a lot of people require medications to function or be stable but not everyone does. There is also that attitude of how people and doctors just throw medications at kids/people to control behaviors instead of using other methods. Plus, if you are trying to reach parents who are either in denial or need eductated, I don't think telling them their kid needs medication should be the first thing they hear. It may or may not be the truth but they may need to ease into the idea. Know what I mean??</p><p></p><p>I do think that if you can reach other parents, it would be a good thing. Good luck!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="mstang67chic, post: 296783, member: 2459"] I think you and CrazyinVA hit the nail on the head...Stigma. Even in this day and age, there is still a HUGE stigma attached to the term mentally ill. Most people think as you said....mentally ill people are "crazy", they can't function in society, they live in hospitals, group homes or on the streets. But you are also right in the comparison to the diabetes. No matter what it's called, mental illness is still an illness just as diabetes is. It can be treated and controlled but it's still there. There are people [U]here[/U] that are mentally ill but with the right treatments, you'd never know it unless they said something. I think for what you are trying to do, your best bet may be simple rewording on the pamphlets or information being passed out. It may shock some parents and some may turn you away because of their denial but for the stigma to be stamped out, people need to be educated and aware of exactly what mental illness is comprised of. Maybe you could even work with NAMI (or the school even) to put together an informational/awareness event of some kind. Any wording though, I think should be somewhat subtle but decisive. (Hmmm....that sounds kind of counterproductive doesn't it?) Maybe, just as an example, something like what CrazyinVa said. [I] "X (bipolar, ADHD, whatever) is a biologically based mental illness that can manifest itself in many ways including undesireable behaviors. With proper treatment however, these behaviors in school and at home can be minimized or controlled just as you would control the symptoms of other illnesses such as diabetes." [/I] Maybe comparing it to more "socially acceptable" and understood illnesses such as diabetes or others, can help people understand that while something may be a [U]mental[/U] illness, it's still simply an [U]illness[/U] and not something to be ashamed of or kept secret. I would also be carefull when referring to treatments. Yes, a lot of people require medications to function or be stable but not everyone does. There is also that attitude of how people and doctors just throw medications at kids/people to control behaviors instead of using other methods. Plus, if you are trying to reach parents who are either in denial or need eductated, I don't think telling them their kid needs medication should be the first thing they hear. It may or may not be the truth but they may need to ease into the idea. Know what I mean?? I do think that if you can reach other parents, it would be a good thing. Good luck! [/QUOTE]
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